Senior Occupational Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties of the job

Clinical:

• To identify, prioritise and manage patients presenting with impairments for Occupational Therapy intervention.
• To assess and treat patients with complex needs who would benefit from a co-ordinated multidisciplinary assessment, rehabilitation and discharge service.
• To be competent in the administration of specific Occupational Therapy assessments of motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and functional areas.
• To be competent in the development and implementation of remedial and preventative treatment programmes addressing motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and functional areas, both individually and in group settings.
• To work closely with patients and carers to incorporate service users views in the setting of goals, implementation and evaluation of treatment programmes.
• To conduct risk assessments and implement risk management strategies including the use of Therapeutic Manual Handling techniques and the Lone Working Policy.
• To assess and demonstrate to clients the safe use of equipment and adaptations and recommend provision thereof.  To advise carers on the safe use of equipment.
• To write Occupational Therapy reports for referring hospitals, Social Services and other agencies detailing functional status, discharge recommendations, and recommendations regarding ongoing Occupational Therapy intervention.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Management:

• To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within the Occupational Therapy Service with a view to measuring efficiency and ensuring high quality standards.
• To participate in the delivery of the Occupational Therapy Service development plan.
• To supervise and provide support for Junior Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Students, Occupational Therapy Assistants and Technicians as instructed by the Head of Occupational Therapy.
• To carry out administrative duties as required e.g. assist in ordering, receiving and maintaining stock and managing petty cash.
• To be aware of and implement the Health and Safety Act, Occupational Therapy Departmental policy and Trust policies. 
• To comply with the COT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, local and national procedures.
• To respect the individuality, values, and cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

Education:

• To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
• To instruct and supervise Junior Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Students and Occupational Therapy Assistants and Technicians according to their training and development needs, as identified through regular supervision and performance appraisal.
• To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
• To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects.
• To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording outcomes in a portfolio.
• To keep in touch with new developments and changing trends in Occupational Therapy and participate in wider issues of providing an Occupational Therapy service i.e. quality assurance, public relations including liaison with the community; planning and policy making.
• To demonstrate leadership skills through the management of designated projects.
• To participate in and present on the in-service training programmes, multi-disciplinary trainings and external conferences.
• To undertake any other duties commensurate within the grade.
• The postholder will carry out their duties as an employee and service provider with due regard for the Authority’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

People Management and Performance

• Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.
• Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.
• Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.
• Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
• Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.
• Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.
• Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.
• Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.

General

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
• Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King’s, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed

Safe Guarding 

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns 
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training.  These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.